Chateau Le Pin 1996

Review of the Estate

Chateau Le Pin, or simplyLe Pin, is aBordeaux winefrom theappellationPomerol. The unusually small estate is located on the Right Bank of France’sGironde estuaryin the commune of Pomerolnear the hamlet of Catusseau, Chateau Le Pin is frequently one of the world's most expensive red wines.

Madame Laubie, whose family had owned Chateau Le Pin since 1924 sold the one hectarevineyardin 1979 to the Belgian Jacques Thienpont for 1 million francs.The vineyards were developed by Jacques Thienpont whose family own the neighbouringVieux Chateau Certan,and the wine at Chateau Le Pin was produced in tiny quantities from a farmhouse basement.The property was already called Le Pinfrom a solitary pine tree that grows near thewinery.Today the estate comprises 2,7 hectares in one contiguous vineyard surrounding the winery. In 2011 a new winery, designed by the Belgian architectural practice Robbrecht en Daem architecten, was inaugurated using small microcuves and gravity to move Chateau Le Pin wine.

Chateau Le Pin is considered by some a predecessor of the "garage wines", although this idea is rejected by many, including by the proprietors, on the basis of the merits of theterroir, and the absence of extreme measures to compensate for mediocre grapes.

Chateau Le Pin occasionally the most expensive wine in the world,continually receiving highwine ratingsfrom wine critics and produced in extremely small numbers, Chateau Le Pin bottles are a constant presence on the wine auction market.

The winery is currently managed by Jacques Thienpont, and additional tiny plots of land have been acquired. Chateau Le Pin is among the clients of theoenologistDany Rolland, wife ofMichel Rolland.

Vineyard

Surface area: 5 acres

Grape Varieties: 92% Merlot, 8% Cabernet Franc

Average age of vines: 28 years

Density of plantation: 6,000 vines per hectare

Average yields: 34 hectoliters per hectare

Average cases produced: 600 per year

Plateau of maturity: 8 - 25 years

Robert Parker Le Pin 1996 Review

Score: 92 Points

Like many 1996 Pomerols, there is a certain austerity to the tannins, and the wines are not as generous and voluminous as they would be from a great right bank vintage like 1998 or 2000. Nevertheless, this is a top-notch example, more structured than usual, but still has the exotic notes of melted chocolate, roasted espresso, a hint of coconut, and a plethora of jammy black fruits. Relatively supple, even for the vintage, this flamboyant, medium-bodied wine shows superb ripeness, purity, and overall balance with a bit of dry tannin in the finish. Anticipated maturity: 2004-2020. Last tasted, 5/02.